Mechanical toy or amusement device



March 6, 1928.

C. ZABEL MECHANICAL TOY OR AMUSEMENT DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 27, 1923 Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED. STATES CHARLES ZABEL, QFCOBAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA, nssrelvon, BY MESNE assrezg- MENTS, T0 MCDOWELL mannnacrnmne COMPANY, or MILLVA'LE, PENNSYL VANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL roY on AMUSEMENT Davies.

Application filed September 27, 1923, Serial 110,665,114. Renewed July 2 8, 132 7.

This invention is for a mechanical toy of a type having a mechanically operated track and a gravity operated object adapted to roll over the track.

According to my invention, I-PI'OVldB a table having a continuous track thereon, the table being so mounted that it is free to be rocked in a suitable manner by a clockwork or other operating mechanism. 1 Mounted to roll in the track is a car, or other suitable object, which will always gravitate to the lowest point of the track. As the low point is shifted by the rocking of the table, the car is caused to travel around the track. Several cars and vseveral tracks may be employed, so as to give theappearance of a race.

The toy is extremely simple and may be easily assembled and cheaply made.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the toy; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the toy, in the plane of line II-II of Fig. 1,

but on a larger scale; I

Fig. 3 is a detail of the table mounting and rocking mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the break for controlling the spring motor.

In the drawing,6 designates a hollow sheet metal base member having a spring motor 6 or other suitable driving means suspended from the under face of the top part T thereof.

The motor illustrated includes. a spring 8 having a key shaft 9, the spring driving through gears a vertical shaftlO and a governor 11, which is nothing more than a disk of lead or other heavy metal. A str p 12,

bivotally mounted at l3, ha i g. 4' p l ing handle portion 14 outside the base, has an inner portion 15 adapted to be moved into and out. of contact with the governor'disk to provide a brake. V

: Formed in thetop portion 7 of the base is a conical projection 16 having a flattop 17 in which is a central hole .18. Mountedjon the flat top 17 is a post 19 having a ball-like end 20, a cage 21 being provided around the ball portion to retain the post in position.

Projecting .irom the center of the bottom of theball portion of the post is a rod 22.51M-

A pin 25 on the side of the ball projects I through hole 26 in the side of the cage to hold the ball against rotation, although allowing for some play. i

Secured to the top of the post is table 27 which is ofany suitable shape. I have shown it as being round. The tableflias central conical portion "2 8 into which the post 19 extends, a screw 29 serving to secure the table on the post. The table i s', wi t h the exception of'the central cone, dished or concaved and may be proyided with an outer flange 30. Formed in the table top is one or more suitable tracks or guidesfsuch for instance, as annular troughs 31. l have shown three suchtracks or troughs suitably:

spaced from each other. The table, like the base, may be very easily and cheaply formed from sheet metal. flhe ball like member 20 provides a sphericalseat for the table.

With the toy as thus described, are suitable obje'cts designed to roll in the tracks. I prefer to use miniature Wheeled yehicles132. Vehicles well designed for use in this connection are shown in application of Charles Zabel, Serial No.665,115, filed Septembfir 27, 1923.

The outer wheels 01" each vehicle are set in one of the tracks or troughs. For instance, it there are three tracks, three vehicles are used, each vehicle having its outer Wheels in a different track. 6

The winding stem 9 projects through a slot 9 in the conical part of the tablehand has a key 9" at its upper end, by means of which the spring motor may be wound.

In operation,when the motor is released, the disk '24 is rotated. This tends to impart a rotary motion test-em or red 22 on .the iball '20, but since the ball is flield against rotation,

the ball is rocked,imp'arting .to thetable a corresponding rocking motion, .Which is such as to cause each point on .the periphery of the disk to successivelybecome the lowest point, the pointdiametrically opposite being the highes.

Thus, with each complete ,revelution of disk 24, the table is progressively tilted ,so

that each point has successively become the lowest. As the cars or other objects on the tracks will be moved by gravity to the lowest part of the table, each car will travel around its track completely with each revolution of disk 2d. As the table may be rocked fairly rapidly, and the inclination of the table be relatively great, the cars may attain considerable speed. \Vhere two or more cars are employed, the appearance of a race is given, so that the toy is very amusing.

My invention contemplates that the same principle may be adapted to amusement de vices on a larger scale, as for a so-called pleasure railway.

Various detail changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A mechanical toy including ahollow base structure, a dished pan having tracks thereon, said pan having a central con cal. portion, means secured to the central conical portion and resting on the base structure providing a gyrating seat for the pan, the conical portion of the pan partially fitt ng over the upper part of the base, a spring motor contained within the hollow base structure, and means driven by the spring motor for imparting a gyrating motion to the pan.

2. A mechanical toy including a. hollow base structure, a dished pan-like table having a central conical portion, a stem secured to said central portion of the table, a spheri cal surface on said stem having a seat on the upper part of the base, a spring motor in the base under the seat for said spherical surface, a rotating member driven by the motor, a rod on said stem having an eccentric connection with said rotating member for imparting a gyratory motion to the table, and gravity propellediobjects on the table.

3. An amusement device comprising a table, a track on the table extending therearound, an object adapted to roll on the track, a base member, a central post for the table having a spherical seat on the base member, a rod extending down from the lower end of thepost, a rotatable member having an eccentric engagement with the downwardly extending rod, and means for driving the rotatable member.

at. An amusement device comprising a table, a track on the table extending therearound, an object adapted to roll on the track, a base member, a central post for the table having a special seat on the base memher, a rod extending downfrom the lower end of the post, a rotatable member having an eccentric engagement with the downwardly extending rod, and means for driving the rotatable member, said means including a. motor mounted in the base.

5. An amusement device comprising a circular table having an annular guide thereon, an object adapted to roll along the table and be directed by the guide, a central post for the table terminating in a ball portion. a base member, a cage on the base member for en gaging the ball portion to hold the table on the base, means for limiting the rotative movement of the ball to a relatively slight are, a rod extending downwardly from the ball along the longitudinal axis of the post, a rotatable disk having an eccentric opening therein into which the rod extends, and means on the base for rotating the disk, the rotation of the disk imparting a progressive rotative rocking motion to the table which is held against rotation by its connection with the post.

(3. In a mechanical toy, a supporting housing, an inclined plate member freely mounted above the housing and provided with a track, a shaft vertically disposed in said housing, means carried by the housing to positively drive said shaft, and means comprising an eccentric element rotatable by said shaft in a substantially horizontal plane and operatively associated with said plate member to impart a gyratory motion thereto.

7. In a mechanical toy. a supporting housing, a motor located within the housing, an inclined dished plate member having a track freely mounted above the housing, a shaft vertically disposed in said housing and positively rotated by said motor, and means comprising an eccentric element connected to said shaft adjacent the top thereof for rotation in a horizontal plane and operativcly associated with said plate member to impart a gyratory motion thereto.

8. In a mechanical toy, a supporting housing, a motor carried thereby, a vertical shaft driven by the motor, an inclined plate above the motor, eccentric means below the plan moved in a substantially horizontal plane about the axis of the shaft and operativcly associated with said plate to impart gvrutory motion thereto, said plate having a track inclined in an upward and outward direction from the base of the plate, and a gravity propelled object on the track, the said inclination of the track enabling the latter to assume a more nearly horizontal position when passing through its lowermost limit of movement. i

9. In a mechanical toy, a supporting housing, a motor carried thereby, an inclined plate above the housing and motor, a substantially vertical shaft driven by the motor, eccentric means below the plate moved by and about the shaft in substantially a. horizontal plane and operatively associated with said plate to impart gyratory motion thereto, said plate having a marginal portion extending upwardly and outwardly from its base to provide a track which may assume a III] more nearly horizontal position When passing through its lowermost limit of movement,

and a gravity movable object on the track.

10. In a mechanical toy to simulate racin a su aortin housin a motor carried thereby, a vertical shaft driven by the motor, an inclined plate above the motor provided with continuous unobstructed tracks for the racing of objects thereon, and eccentric means driven by the shaft and extending laterally therefrom below the plate for 00- action with the plate, so as to gyrate the latter whereby movement Will be imparted to objects on said tracks.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES ZABEL. 

